PhD Studentship: Understanding the Strengthening Mechanisms in Brittle Materials with Laser-Plasma Driven Shock-Waves and Machine Learning

Project overview

This project focuses on strengthening difficult to process “brittle materials” (advanced ceramics and cermets), using a novel technique called laser shock strengthening. 

Controlled laser-plasma driven shock-wave treatment will be applied to these materials to produce new strengthening mechanisms that will enhance the performance of industrial ceramic/cermet parts, in various sectors namely: aerospace, automotive, nuclear and bio-medical. These mechanisms will be examined using facilities at the Manufacturing Technology Centre and Loughborough University to investigate crystal structures, dislocation activity (atomic level), residual stress, microstructures, and phase distribution. Experimental data will be analysed using machine learning, to unlock new material science that will shape future ceramic processing with the newly developed technique. 

Supervisors

Primary supervisor: Manuela Pacella
Secondary supervisors: Eve Zhang and Pratik Shukla

Entry requirements

Candidates are expected to have a 2:1 (or above) MEng/BEng degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, Physics, Material Science, or similar subjects. 

Fees and funding

The studentship is sponsored by Loughborough University and the Manufacturing Technology Centre (www.the-mtc.org). The studentship is for 3.5 years and provides a tax-free stipend of £24,718 per annum for the duration of the studentship plus tuition fees at the UK rate. Due to funding restrictions, the studentship is only open to UK students.

How to apply

All applications should be made online. Under programme name, select ‘Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering’. Please quote reference number: FP-MP-2022.

To avoid delays in processing your application, please ensure that you submit the minimum supporting documents.

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